In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

The dry, lush grass quickly turned into a muddy mess after a rain shower.

If she herself is like this, can the weaker Shiyu really meet her expectations and persevere through the entire one-on-one practice session with Qianye until the very end, when she is unable to play?

It seems... a bit risky.

But since things have come to this, all we can do is hope for the best.

She hoped that although Shiyu did not have any obvious advantages in terms of physique, she might have outstanding talent in terms of skills, and she had a body that even she, as a woman, found quite erotic.

They hoped that she could use this as a weapon to rival Qianye and fight to a standstill without being at a disadvantage.

Perhaps she has that kind of potential.

“…Um…” Shiyu’s face flushed slightly, and she shifted her body somewhat uneasily: “…Hey…Hey! Saeko, what are you doing all of a sudden?”

Saeko silently withdrew her hand, which had been reaching for Shiyu's thigh while she was lost in thought: "Sorry, I just suddenly felt like trying out your figure after hearing what you said, Shiyu. And it's true, not only does it look perfect, but it also feels amazing to the touch. Your future boyfriend is in for a treat."

When the word "boyfriend" was mentioned, Kasumigaoka's expression suddenly became subtle.

The specific feelings she had when she boldly kissed Qianye's cheek last night before parting ways returned to her chest.

She repeatedly twirled the ends of her long hair with her fingers, her face slightly lowered, her eyes flickering as she looked at the ground in front of her, having made up her mind.

"Oh, right, there's something else I wanted to tell you, Saeko. Last night I actually asked Chiya for a favor."

This is what Saeko wants to hear, a topic related to Chiya.

However, she did not show any obvious reaction. She simply looked at her cooperatively and stopped eating, showing a quiet listening posture.

"It's about my novel writing... Saeko, as you know, my novel is a school romance. Recently, I've been having some trouble figuring out how to start writing, so I tried asking Chiya... to pretend to be my lover, in order to help me find inspiration for my writing."

As soon as Kasumigaoka finished speaking haltingly, she clearly saw Saeko's face, her eyes blinking, revealing an expression of surprise mixed with delight.

Saeko didn't need to say anything more; her joyful reaction alone deeply moved Kasumigaoka.

She knew that Saeko cared a lot about and supported her relationship with Chiya.

But I never expected it to be this sincere.

What a pure-hearted and devoted friend who is happy for her own happiness.

I am probably the happiest person in the world.

Not only did I meet my dream partner, but I also made such a close friend with whom I can talk about anything.

"It's really great that Qianye can help you."

"Yes, that's what I think too."

"According to what you're saying, Shiyu, does that mean that when you and Qianye were pretending to be a couple last night, you did some things that only couples do?"

"Um……"

"Could you tell me more about it? I'm a little curious."

"no problem."

After all, she's Saeko.

But there are some things that even close friends can't tell you completely.

It wasn't that he was wary of her; it was just that Kasumigaoka was simply embarrassed by it.

So, aside from the fact that Qianye gently took off her over-the-knee socks in the room and that she took the initiative to kiss him on the side of his face when they parted, everything else could be said frankly and openly.

Eriri didn't have the courage to directly ask Minamoto Chiyo about what she had learned from Rikka.

But the desire to discuss and explore with a lifelong friend is not only present, but also quite urgent.

The United Kingdom, which is eight hours behind in time.

Eriri timed it perfectly, making the call almost the very first thing Yukino Yukinoshita did after waking up normally that morning.

"Yukino! Listen to me, that Kasumigaoka guy, that guy...!"

The opening remarks sound familiar.

Yukino, who had just woken up, rubbed her eyes and thought to herself.

…………

Chapter 187: Vinegar-Scented Plum (6500) (12/15)

There's no need for Eriri to listen to what Eriri said next.

But judging from her anxious tone and the panicked reaction that could be imagined even over the phone.

Yukino Yukinoshita was already able to vaguely guess what Yukinoshita wanted to say next.

After all, this has happened too many times before. Eriri, like now, encounters things that leave her at a loss and unsure of what to do, and confides in me, hoping I can offer advice.

Eriri remained the same as always, but this feeling of being relied upon and trusted was not unpleasant; rather, it brought a subtle sense of satisfaction.

Despite being mentally prepared at first, Yukinoshita couldn't help but frown after hearing Eriri's detailed account of the situation, unable to simply laugh it off.

Kasumigaoka Utaha actually used the excuse of research to get Chiya to pretend to be her boyfriend?

Even if it's just an act, they're still a couple, aren't they? The latter is what matters.

This novelist, skilled in using words, is indeed cunning and adept at sophistry, managing to devise such a sly way to satisfy her dark desires by subtly shifting the focus of her ideas.

"...Yukino, what should we do?" Eriri explained in detail what she knew, revealing everything without reservation.

Because of her anxiety and panic, she repeated some parts of the content twice.

Just moments ago, she appeared relatively calm, saying "I didn't care" when facing Rikka. But now, in front of her closest friend, she completely revealed her true, outwardly strong but inwardly weak nature.

She took off her sunglasses, revealing a tearful expression.

"Don't worry, Eriri. I understand the situation. It's not a big deal. Let me think about it."

My plan to wash up and then do morning reading as soon as I get up has been put on hold for now.

After comforting her friend, Yukinoshita sat on the edge of the bed and pinched her brow.

Eriri on the other end of the phone obediently hummed in agreement, then immediately held her breath and said nothing more.

She entrusted all her worries and anxieties to Yukino, as if she had found a pillar of support, and her heart immediately felt much lighter.

However, Yukino's mood at this moment was not as relaxed as it had been when she replied to Eriri.

In fact, long ago, when she first met Kasumigaoka Utaha, she had already made some judgments through her secret observation and the irrational sixth sense of a woman's psychology.

Because of her possessiveness towards someone, before she could even react, her emotions had already taken a stand against Kasumigaoka Utaha, and she felt that it was alright to maintain a superficial politeness and peace with her.

But that's all; there's absolutely no possibility that their relationship could develop any further.

Yukino felt that Kasumigaoka Utaha probably felt the same way about her.

It was all because of Chiya that these two women, who would never have met otherwise, became connected.

It was all because of him that, even though they were both aware of each other's feelings and thoughts, they still restrained themselves and kept their open and covert struggles to themselves.

But now, due to the intervention of one party, this balance has been broken.

Yukinoshita doesn't really like this kind of back-and-forth, palace-drama-like dynamic, because it doesn't really fit her personality and style of doing things, and she always feels it's a bit silly.

But she couldn't truly remain completely unresponsive after learning about it.

She remembered that summer night with fireworks, when she and he were separated by a distance.

Amidst the bustling crowd and the dazzling fireworks in the sky, they locked eyes.

He smiled like the sun, and using lip reading, he said, "Please guide me for the rest of my life."

That despicable guy...

Come to think of it, it's all his fault!

Yukino didn't believe that with Minamoto Chiya's intelligence and intellect, he wouldn't be able to see that Kasumigaoka Utaha's real intentions weren't about the wine but about him personally.

He could have refused, and he wouldn't be so upset now.

But he still agreed, ostensibly to gather information, but in reality, it was an ambiguous act of helping.

It's simply because he's always been so kind...

He can't help but lend a helping hand to others in need, just like he has been actively doing good deeds since he was a child.

Or is it that, actually...

His agreement wasn't just Kasumigaoka Utaha's wishful thinking; it was a mutual, unspoken understanding between them...

Yukino hoped for the first possibility, but her mind kept drifting towards the second possibility.

As a result, he lost his usual ability to think calmly and became impatient.

From the innocence of kindergarten to the companionship of elementary school, we have walked together all the way for nearly ten years. How could the weight of our friendship be less than that of someone I have only known for two years?

Yukino genuinely believed that she had only been abroad for three years.

She went back home after graduating from junior high school, and nothing will change much.

But now, her confidence is gradually crumbling and disintegrating.

"Um... Yukino, are you still there?"

Eriri's cautious voice came through the phone's microphone.

Actually, she wasn't impatient, it's just that the break time was so short, and there were only two minutes left before class started again, so she really couldn't wait that long.

Yukino snapped out of her turbulent thoughts, took a deep breath, and didn't want Eriri to notice her complicated emotions and make her feel uneasy as well.

So she spoke in the same relaxed tone as before.

"I'm still here. Sorry I took a little longer to think about it, but I do have some ideas..."

Despite various concerns, one thing is beyond doubt.

Just like Eriri, she doesn't want things between Kasumigaoka Utaha and Chiya to continue smoothly.

With the goal set, the rest is quite simple.

"...Actually, Eriri, you and Kasumigaoka are both creators, right? So, following her method, you can use the same reason to ask Chiya for help."